Ducks sink deeper with loss to Coyotes

Ryan Getzlaf of the Ducks reacts to referee Mike Leggo after an interference penalty during the thrid period of game against the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday. The Coyotes defeated the Ducks, 4-2. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Just when you think there isn't a deeper hole to fall into, the Ducks pulled out their shovels and were content to dig away.

Radim Vrbata scored twice in a 4-2 victory for the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday at Jobing.com Arena that extended the Ducks' current losing streak to five games and sent them to their 14th defeat in 16 games.

The Ducks (6-11-4) are stuck in a seemingly never-ending dark tunnel marking their worst stretch of hockey since the 2004-05 lockout.

"It seems like we're scared of winning," defenseman Luca Sbisa said. "We kind of forgot how to win. We have stretches were we play good hockey and we're the team we're supposed to be with the players in this room.

"As soon as we get a bad bounce or something or fall behind on the score, we kind of get scared. We stray away from the game plan."

Not even a rare first-period lead helped. The Ducks had been 6-0-2 in games they scored first, and Saku Koivu's redirection of Andrew Cogliano's centering pass at 5:44 of the made for a good omen.

Keith Yandle tied it for Phoenix with a one-timer past Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller at 13:13, and then Vrbata hammered a power-play goal into an open net less than four minutes later for the lead against a team that's 0-8-1 when trailing after 20 minutes.

Brandon McMillan and Corey Perry each had shorthanded breakaways to try to tie the score in the second period, but they were stopped by Phoenix goalie Mike Smith, who faced just eight shots in the first two periods and made 19 saves in all.

"I just couldn't settle it down from the red line in," Perry said. "In those situations, I've got to be able to score on those."

A short time later, Vrbata delivered his second goal for a 3-1 lead. Perry scored on a third-period breakaway but only after the Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson banked a shot in off two Ducks.

Ducks winger Bobby Ryan did not play the third period because of a hip contusion. Ryan was limited to just four shifts in the second.

Ryan Getzlaf of the Ducks reacts to referee Mike Leggo after an interference penalty during the thrid period of game against the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday. The Coyotes defeated the Ducks, 4-2. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES
Phoenix Coyotes' Rostislav Klesla (16) shoots on goal as Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller defends during the first period. MATT YORK, AP
The Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres tries to score as Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (1) and Francois Beauchemin (23) defend during the first period. MATT YORK, AP
Shane Doan, Keith Yandle, Ray Whitney, Radim Vrbata and Martin Hanzal of the Phoenix Coyotes celebrate after Vrbata scored a first-period power play goal against the Ducks. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES
Ben Maxwell of the Ducks is penalized for interference as he knocks down goaltender Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes during the second period. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES
Lauri Korpikoski of the Phoenix Coyotes breaks in on goaltender Jonas Hiller of the Ducks as Cam Fowler defends. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES
Goaltender Jonas Hiller of the Ducks reacts during the NHL game against the Coyotes. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES
The Coyotes' Shane Doan (19) works against the Ducks' Saku Koiuv for the puck during the third period. MATT YORK, AP

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